Japan's largest business daily Nikkei said that the Nexus 7 is taking over mainly because of price

Apple's iPad is notorious for being king of the tablets, but in Japan, this may no longer be the case.

Market research firm BCN conducted a survey in Japan last December to see what the tablet market share was looking like. Out of 2,400 consumer electronics stores in Japan, the iPad had 40.1 percent of the market while Google's Nexus 7 claimed 44.4 percent.

Japan's largest business daily Nikkei said that the Nexus 7 is taking over mainly because of price. The Nexus 7 costs $199 USD while the cheapest iPad -- the iPad mini -- is $329 USD. Both the Nexus 7 and iPad mini are 7-inch tablets.

However, the report did note that some stores in Japan have run out of the iPad mini, which may have affected the results a bit.

Google's Nexus 7 is a tablet made by ASUS. It runs the latest version of the Android operating system, 4.1 Jelly Bean, and packs various features like a 7-inch IPS display with a 1280x800 resolution, a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, a 1.2 MP front-facing camera, NFC, Bluetooth, 802.11n wireless, GPS and 16GB/32GB versions. The 16GB version starts at $199 while the 32GB runs $249.99.

Luckily we will be able to to make comparison of actual sales figures when Apple releases it's quarterly results next week containing actual figures for iPad sales and Google releases theirs with actual figures for......oh.... hang on a minute.....no actual Nexus sales figures from Google.... eh?

lolit's only when Apple is losing that you say surveys aren't accurate. How about all those other iphone market share surveys out there? all inaccurate too? you need to stop posting any other links other than ones from Apple's then.

LOL, he is also very observant to changes in the induistry. When the zeitgeist was moving away from MS and toward mobile/Apple, he was right on it... Of course when it favors Apple. Now that the zeitgeist is moving away from Apple, he is blind as a bat. ;)

quote: But it is naive to think that Apple could continue to dominate the growing market for smartphones. The company has seen its market share in the smartphone space fall from 23% at the start of last year to 14.6% by the third quarter. Apple's stock took a major dive this week, falling at one point to an 11-month low, on reports that orders for its iPhone 5 display had been cut in half from previously planned levels, noting that sales have not been up to snuff. The reports came out of Asia where Apple's iPhone is assembled. (Apple did not respond to request for comment for this story.)

For all Tony's blathering, the market is beginning to notice that Apple has run out of markets to conquer. There will, of course, be a cheaper iPhone and a cheaper iPad mini option over time. This is how companies diversify their exposure to market risk - unfortunately, Apple has been terrible at it. They focus on high-margin expensive products - cheaper options will hit at their stylish reputation and, worse, cannibalize their high end products.

What you have to realise is that Apple will continue to dominate no matter what.Their stuff is desirable and peeps get excited about what they release, they have a cult following because they choose to think different.

Android users can wish upon a star for Apple to fail but it's not happening, they make nice profit on their items sold and they are happy with the money they have which is a huge bank balance.I notice all Android users can do is drone on about specs most of the time which means you just don't understand why Apple is always in the limelight and highly regarded. so i'll give you MY personal opinion on why i own apple products.

The User experience far exceeds anything else out there. Stuff just works and it works really well. Apple have closed their system up in response to seeing what happened to windows products with regards to being open and vulnerable. I personally love the way there ecosystem works across all devices and to use it is a joy.

Price does not come into it as much if you are getting quality and reliability.

The excitement around Apple Keynotes is testament to how peeps love the products and you look forward to Apple's next surprise gadget.I dont see any excitement for any other company's products like i do Apple.

It's time to stop always having a go at Apple and start enjoying your Android product if it's so good. Apple should not even be a concern to you if your android products fill your needs.You will notice that samsung ads are aimed at Apple put downs but Apple's ads are about their products.

Just enjoy what you have and stop trying to make it seem better by putting the other guy down. It's a pointless thing to do.

"What you have to realise is that Apple will continue to dominate no matter what.Their stuff is desirable and peeps get excited about what they release, they have a cult following because they choose to think different."

Thats an odd statment since its this articale that shows they are not dominate and continue to be less dominate.

They will , sooner or later, become what they have always been. A company that makes over priced products for users that are either clueless or think having an Apple product is cool. I go with clueless much like the rest of your silly post.

yeah it sounds like he's talking about Apple 2007-2011, not what's going on today. today apples competition has them out maneuvered with better products at less money. That is a combo you can't beat. And as far as the user experience again 2007 to 2011... they had the advantage but not anymore. They have been caught up with and surpassed and now they're eating dust. not to say that they will be financially hurting, but the growth period is over and so is the honeymoon. there going to have to go back to the drawing board and come out with some better products and start competing again, and stay out of the courtroom.

For what most people do with a tablet (browse the web, video content, email, apps and games) both are fairly equal, but one if priced better, and one is way too much $ for what you get. It's not a really hard one to figure out.

Why you guys care about profits is beyond me. Pay attention to what you get as a consumer.

Is it? Dang. I thought it was fromteh iPad 3... All the more reason to not pay too much for Apple.

I have a Nexus 7 too... a WAY better bang for your buck... I wouldnt mind seeing a next gen iPad mini with a retina level lscreen and faster SOC. That might be worth $299. Defintely not this 1024x768 thing. Should be $150

The iPad mini is a crime against nature. Old hardware, outdated screen and a price point that is much higher than it's competition.

Now if it had the iPad 3 or 4 SoC, a higher res screen and was priced for $329, I could see that. But they are basically warming up last weeks dinner and serving it at a black tie gala prices.

The Nexus 7, iPad3 and Transformer Prime are the kids, although I get quite a bit of time with each as they ask me to fix things or beat certain game levels. But I'm very happy with my Nexus 10. Best tablet I've ever used.

The iPad mini is about one thing: form factor. It's very light weight given the screen area (10.4g per square inch, which AFAIK is much less than any other device) and has high build quality. From that lone perspective, it's a decent piece of engineering.

It sucks in every other way, however, and IMO intentionally so. Apple still wants most people to pay $500 for a tablet, so they didn't want it to be remotely competitive with the iPad3/4. They're just trying to nab some cream from the sub-$500 market and leave the rest to the others. Rational consumers aren't worth their trouble.

quote: The iPad mini is about one thing: form factor. It's very light weight given the screen area (10.4g per square inch, which AFAIK is much less than any other device) and has high build quality.

Its build quality is compromised by how thin and light it is. Watch the "Will It Blend?" video when he smashes the three tablets against the side of the blender. The Nexus 7 bounces back to its original shape. The Kindle HD mostly bounces back. The iPad mini instantly deforms.

It's possible to make something too thin and light. I think Apple made a mistake going for a 7.85" screen instead of 7". I'm pretty sure they did it so the long dimension of their 4:3 aspect ratio screen would be longer than the 16:10 Android devices. That way both web pages and movies would be bigger on the iPad mini than on 7" Android devices. But the price for that larger size was a device which was uncomfortable to hold in one hand. To try to make it more comfortable to hold, they cut down the weight. Structural strength suffered as a consequence.

Pretty much. Android hardware is just catching up with where the iPad was two years ago. Tegra 4 tablets, when they eventually come out, are still going to be behind the iPad 4 that Apple released in October. That said, eh, better off waiting on the mini to be upgraded. Good as it feels in the hand it doesn't seem like it'll be worth it until they double its resolution, not for $320.

I suppose its worth it for people who want the apps (they all still run great on iPad 2 level hardware) and don't mind the screen at the expense of the form factor. Retina display or bust here.

OK, enthusiests... But the point remains. What we care about is the products we can buy. Who gives a crap if Apple, Google Samsung or anyone else made a profit or lost money on it? Its just a silly thing to keep bringin into the conversation about tech products.

"Product A has this that and the other feature and it cheaper than product B"

"Product B has only this and that feature, its missing the other but it has this and that better, that is why it costs more"

quote: OK, enthusiests... But the point remains. What we care about is the products we can buy. Who gives a crap if Apple, Google Samsung or anyone else made a profit or lost money on it? Its just a silly thing to keep bringin into the conversation about tech products.

"Product A has this that and the other feature and it cheaper than product B"

"Product B has only this and that feature, its missing the other but it has this and that better, that is why it costs more"

"So, the company from product B makes more profit"

It just doesnt fit.

It depends. If you are basically a consumer and that's where your interest ends then it's true the only thing that will matter is what you can get into your hands, how much is costs and how good it is as a product. I think it's fair to say that many people on these forums and many readers of DT are actually interested in the tech industries and in technology in a broader way. So although you may not be interested I thinks it's clear that a lot people are interested in technology trends, which companies and platforms are doing well or having problems, how the intersection of changing technology and changing business trends are reshaping the tech world. I suggest if people post something that you don't consider relevant personally then just don't bother to read it. You could start with not bothering to read an article and the associated comments, such as this one, that are only to do with sales figures as it is clearly of no interest to you, and in fact I am not sure why you do.

"it's clear that a lot people are interested in technology trends, which companies and platforms are doing well or having problems"

BS... Tony you in particular more than anyone else uses Apple's profit as if it matters when talking about tech. "So, the company from product B makes more profit" is taken directly from you about Apple. I cant tell you how many discussions have been going on about tech, tech products, features, or whatever and your only response is "Apple makes more money" (I am paraphrasing). Its your enddless quest to make Apple appear in a better light than reality on any and all issues.

" I suggest if people post something that you don't consider relevant personally then just don't bother to read it."

Of course, you'd like that, because it would equal me not calling you on your BS. When I see you bending the truth and spinning things and making things appear differently than they are, I will call you on it.

Its a company Tony, get over it. You like the products? Great, buy them... Clearly millions of people like them and buy them. When you get into spinning every issue to make Apple sound better you will be challenged.

Wow, Apple stock dipped as low as $485 Wednesday, now at $502, way down from the peak of $705. Bummer.

Oh what a difference a few months makes. Remember how Apple was "most valuable company in history?" Look at INFLATION-ADJUSTED market cap today--MS is champ at $800B, poor Apple is just about $470B, behind MS, GE, Cisco, and Intel. Double bummer.

quote: Wow, Apple stock dipped as low as $485 Wednesday, now at $502, way down from the peak of $705. Bummer.

Oh what a difference a few months makes. Remember how Apple was "most valuable company in history?" Look at INFLATION-ADJUSTED market cap today--MS is champ at $800B, poor Apple is just about $470B, behind MS, GE, Cisco, and Intel. Double bummer.

Once upon a time in a land far, far way and a long time ago Microsoft was a bigger company than Apple. Then it all went horribly wrong and poor Microsoft lost it's way while Apple grew ever larger until one day in soon, sometime in 2013, the iOS installed base will be bigger than the Windows installed base and many teeth will be gnashed in Redmond and many chairs will thrown and many Microsoft fans will weep.

This is a good analysis of the speed with which iOS and Android will ramp to a billion installed base compared to the Windows ramp, it also puts the Xbox in perspective.

You also said "If you don't buy Apple stock now, you will regret it." That was when Apple's share price was north of $600.

Except Apple's heydays were over the very moment your God - Steve Jobs - died. Now the stock is breaching south of $500.

But you'll just point to Apple's income statements and say "no no no, you are wrong, I am right, Apple is still ahead - just look at how much money it makes!" Tony, even the most jaded of anti-gun advocates can see you're BS-ing from a mile away.

"Seriously, Tony. Most of your posts consist of links to the same few Apple supporting sites. Of course they're going to agree with your point of view. Time to broaden your horizons a little?"

LOL... Tony isnt here to broaden his horizons, he is here specifically to narrow yours. In any and all situations Tony's agenda here is to make Apple appear in a better light. Thus the one sides links, spin and "half truths"

What I don't understand about your rather pompous disclaimer of any interest in the business aspect of technology is why you are posting a such comment in a thread about an article about about tech sales figures? Seems a bit dysfunctional to me.

In reality of course your feigned disinterest is just a bit of silly and arch discussion trick to pretend disinterest in any comment you don't like when can't think of anything coherent to say in response.

If you really don't like discussing the business prospects of technology companies fine - piss off to another thread or keep your trap shut and let people who do want to discuss such things have a discussion uninterrupted by your vacuous piffle.

I don't like discussing player transfers in the Premier League but would be an utter nob if I kept turning up in such discussions proclaiming that sports fans don't want to discuss transfers. Do you get the point dude?

"What I don't understand about your rather pompous disclaimer of any interest in the business aspect of technology "

Again, I call BS. I never said I have no interest, what I dont like is to see you take everyu discussion and end it with "So, Apple makes more profit". Stop making everything black and white. You cop out with that same BS any time anyone says anything negative about Apple, you sarcasticaly post "Apple is doomed" as if everything everyone says has to be 100% or zero. Seriously, who do you thing your fooling?

quote: If you really don't like discussing the business prospects of technology companies fine - piss off to another thread or keep your trap shut and let people who do want to discuss such things have a discussion uninterrupted by your vacuous piffle.

No one really was talking about the business aspect. It was you that brought it up, as always, because Apple's sales figures are all you've got to attempt to wind other posters up, but it's obviously worn itself out because no one here is interested anymore.

It's nice to bring another perspective to the table, but you constantly repeat yourself.

Not really. Most major releases are on both platform, any major function can be done on both. "there is an app for that" is kind of an understatement, because for most things on either platform there is a hundred apps for that.

Whatever gap there is in phone app quality is even wider in tablets. The difference in the quality of tablet optimized applications for iOS is substantial, not even close. I know several people who own Android phones (GS3, Nexus 4) but still keep an iPad or have switched back to one because the loss of applications was too much. If all they did were basic things like web/email/Netflix then it'd be a different story.

That said, while I like the form factor of the iPad mini I absolutely hate its display. Perhaps it'll be worth looking at when they double its resolution, but right now I don't much care for it or its price.

It actually seems like that's why the price is that high to begin with, so they can keep it the same when its display and SoC are upgraded to support 2048x1536

Android tablet and iPhone? Seems an odd pairing given that apps are even more vital with tablets, but I get it if they went with a Kindle HD or Nexus 7 based on price. $200 is a good price and the Nexus 7 is good hardware.

Yes, amazingly enough people think differently than you and place priorities on different things.

Personally, I wouldn't buy any of Apple's current lineup, because on all fronts, I can get more product and more features for less money. That may change, you never know what Apple might release, but looking at the current lineup, not a single product has equal features to an Android counterpart.

Best apps, best hardware. If all you do is email and watch some video then yeah, $200 is a good price for a cheap Android tablet, but by no means is it objectively better. Its like saying that a Nintendo Wii (Super Mario Galaxy notwithstanding) is superior to other consoles for being cheap.

You do know that Google is making ZERO from Nexus 4/7 right? I wouldn't call it competition until they actually make profit out of it. Selling something as a non-profit organization isn't really considered competitive.

I have a Nexus 7 and a iPad Mini. I can assure you that iPad Mini is a better product. Hold it with one hand, carry it around, look at the screen and come back and talk.

Thumping your chest and being a Google apologist isn't going to make you argument any more reasonable than Lance Armstrong's interview.

If a company is not profitable, the chances are, it isn't going to last .... you can build something out of nothing. Business 101.

As for the sales dates you mention, that is irrelevant since this article indicates sales at 2400 retail locations over an identical time period. This doesn't indicate market-share since the products went on sale. The shortage in iPad Mini's on the other hand could certainly affect the results.

Features?The Nexus 7 can also have 16Gb or even 32Gb of memory, but not sure when/if that affects the Japanese market. It does have a slightly smaller screen, but is higher resolution. And it actually has modern hardware compared to iPad2 leftovers stuck in the mini. So you pointed out the pro's of the iPad mini, I'm just providing a counterpoint.

Finally, while selling a tablet at cost vs profit is bad for companies, it's great for consumers. You can't be seriously championing for companies profits over consumer benefit, can you?

quote: Finally, while selling a tablet at cost vs profit is bad for companies, it's great for consumers.

That depends on what company you are. For example, Amazon can afford such practice because it can make it's money back on the ecosystem. Heck, Apple could probably do the same. Now ASUS is a slightly different story perhaps. If Google gives them a percentage of all apps bought from those devices, then it might also be good for the company. Assuming the device is good quality, it also helps build brand loyalty.